The World Health Organisation (WHO) has appealed for more flight capacity to step up shipments of diagnostic tests and protective equipment to areas where Covid-19 is spreading, especially Latin America.

Paul Molinaro, chief of WHO operations, support and logistics, said global vaccine shipments were disrupted in April and if this continued into May there would be gaps in routine immunisations and campaigns against other disease outbreaks.

The UN’s World Food Programme has reported the first disruptions in some food supply chains that “could bite deep”, he said.

“On commercial aircraft, we are always willing to take more offers. We appeal constantly for more offers of assets, or extremely discounted air cargo,” Reuters quoted Molinaro as saying.